rogers



(No Model 4 Sheets.Sheet 3 P. ROGERS & J. PLAY-EB, APPARATUS FOR COATING META'LPLATES WITH TIN.

No. 471,437. Patented Max:222, 1892.

(No Model,) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

P. ROGERS & J. PLAYER. APPARATUS FOR GOATING METAL PLATES WITH TIN.

No. 471.437.. Patented Mar. 22, 1892 a UNHTE TATEs PHILIP ROGERS, OF SWANSEA, AND JOHN PLAYER, OF CLYDACH, NEAR SWANSEA, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR COATING METAL PLATES WITH TIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,437, dated March 22, 1892. Application filed August 12,1890. Serial 110.361.84 1. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, PHILIP ROGERS, residing at Swansea, and JOHN PLAYER, residing at Olydach, near Swansea, in the county of Glamorgan, Wales, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented Im provements in Apparatus for Coating Metal Plates with Tin, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in machinery or apparatus of the kind described in the specification of former Letters Patent granted to us, dated April 29, 1890, No. 426,962, for coating metal plates with tin, lead, or other metals, or metallic alloys.

The invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation of such ma chinery or apparatus and to increase the working capacity thereof.

In order that our present improvements in the abpve-mentioned machinery or apparatus may be clearly understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein we will in referring to certain parts of the original specification distinguish them by the same reference-letters with which they are marked in the drawings annexed to the specification of our before-mentioned patent.

Figures 1 and 2 are elevations at right angles to eachother, and both partly in vertical section, of our improved machine. Figs. 3 to 10, inclusive, are detail views. Fig. 11 is a sectional detail view illustrating a modification. Figs. 12 and 13 are diagrammatic views hereinafter referred to. Figs. 14, 15, and 16 are detail views of various modes of operating the clip-bar. Fig. 17 is a detail sectional view of the hub of the receiving-rack. Figs. 1 and 2 are to a smaller scale than the remaining figures.

A machine of the kind referred to comprises a potAfor the molten coating metal or alloy, a flux-box O, a grease-box 13, containing several pairs of finishing-rolls G G G each working in a roll-feeding trough K, a cradle H, a clip-bar d, with spring-clips, which receive .the plates to be coated one at a time through the flux-box, carry them down into the molten metal in the pot A and deliver them through a box I and the grease-box to the lower pair of finishing-rolls G, a pick-up apparatus marked, collectively, D, provided with mechanical fingers and adapted to antomatically remove the finished plates one at a time from the top pair of finishing-rolls G and either deposit them in a suitable rack, such as E, or otherwise dispose of them, and mechanism for operating the several parts mentioned.

The cradle H consists of a series of bent bars secured together by transverse bars 0 o, and the outermost of which are secured to a third bar '5, the ends of which are journaled in bearings 71' 2", as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The ends of the transverse bar 0, secured to the cradle-bars, are extended far enough on each side to come in contactwith guide-plates g, and so prevent the lower ends of the cradlebarstouching the clip-bar d. To bar d are secured, at points opposite the spaces between the ribs M at the back of the pot A, a number of bent bars 6, each carrying at one end a spring-bar e, that bears against the other end, the whole forming a spring-clip adapted to receive and hold a plate while the same is being carried down through the metal in pot A. The clip-bar d is guided vertically by guidebars 0, which, instead of being each made double, as in our former machine, are made single and enter recesses in the ends of the clip-bar, these recesses being each formed by a jaw-piece cl, secured to the bar, as shown in sectional plan in Fig. 5. The upper and lower ends of each guide-bar c are secured to the grease-box and to a cross-bar n, respectively, as in our former machine.

By making, the guide-bars single they can be more readily withdrawn than heretofore from the pot A, together with the springclips, for the purpose of regulating the latter or for cleaning purposes. The clip-bar d is raised and lowered, asin our former machine, by side levers b, pivoted at a, which are connected to bar (Z by links it. These levers are depressed by a slotted connecting-rod 01 Fig. 4, which is connected to one of the levers and acts solely by compression, being operated from the driving-shaft L, through toothed wheels h, g, and f and crank e? on the shaft 6 The longer arms of the levers are raised by the counter-weights .2

i is a toothed Wheel for driving the finishing-rolls.

According to this invention we dispense with the pivoted switch or guide described in our former specification for directing coated plates while being raised to the finishingrollers, and use in lieu thereof a guidef, which in cross-section is approximately V- shaped. This guide f is fixed (it may be by rivets extending through lugs at each end) to the guide-bars c c, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and to its ends are secured the guide-plates g. The front of the guide f is plain,but the backhas groovesf cast in it, as shown in Fig.- 3, to correspondwith the spaces between the cradle-bars and the spaces betweenthe ribs M. The guidef may be cast in one with the grease-pot B; but this is open to the objections that a larger percentage of wasters are obtained in casting the grease-pots, and the V-shaped guide is not readily accessible for cleaning. \Vith the arrangement described, after a plate to be coated has been .passed through the flux-box C, between the guide-plates g, and inserted in the springclips 6 it is carried by the clips down into the moltenmetal, and is caused by the bent bars of the cradle II, bearing against it, to assume avertical or approximately vertical position, so that when it is afterward raised its top edge will be guided by the grooved side of the guide f and the ribs M into the guide I, and thence to the finishing-rolls G G G W'hen making terne plates, the greater buoyancy of the molten alloy renders the working of the cradle H rather heavy. To obviate or neutralize this to a certain extent, a bar 2' at the upper end of the cradle is connected by a rod 1' to one arm of a lever 2' the other arm of which carries an adjustable counter-weight i", which is so adjusted that the cradle will yield to allow the plates to pass down into the spring-clip without bending them, but will afterward push over the topjedge of the plates beyond the lower edge of the guide f before they begin to rise.

To adapt the machine to work smaller plates than can be worked with the springclips shown .in Figs. 1 and 2, the modified form of clip shown in Fig. 11 can be used. In this arrangement the bars a and springbars 2 areconnected to the clip-bar cl, as shown, so that they can pass upward within the spaces between the guide-piece f and the ribs M without coming in contact with the lower edge of such guide-piece. The upper end of eachbar e is bent, as shown, to form a shoulder at 6* to support a plate, and the upper end of each of the springbars e is bent soas to press against the upper bent end of the corresponding bar a. Screws a", one only of which can be seen in Fig. 11, are provided for adjusting the degree of pressure between the upper ends of each pair of bars a and e.

- through the flux-box.

As the plates to be treated cannot be inserted in place in this modified form of clip when the same is in its highest position, it is necessary to impart a different motion to the clip-bar shown in Fig. 11 than that imparted to the clip-bar shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 12 shows, diagrammatically, an arrangement for this purpose in which a cam c on the shaft e is used instead of the crank 6 Fig. 1. This cam works in contact with a roller e journaled to the forked end of the connecting-rod (Z which is jointed to one of the two connected side levers b, the roller being kept always in contact with the cam by counterbalance-weights, such as 2 Fig. 2. The cam is so formed that assuming the clip-bar d to be in the position shown in Fi ull and the cam to be turning in the direction of the arrow,Fig. 12, the cam will gradually depress the lover I) and bar (l until the point e of the cam comes into contact with the roller a, when the bar will be sufficiently depressed to enablea plate to be inserted in the clip The clip-bar will then remain stationary or dwell, while'the periphery of the cam from c to c, which is.

concentric to the cam-center, travels in contact with the roller, thereby affording suiticient time for the insertion of the plate. The clip-bar is then depressed by the action of the cam-surface from c to e to a sutlicient extent to enable the top edge of the plate to be carried down below the lower edge of the guide-piece f, and the plate is then caused by the cradle II to assume a vertical position. From 6 to e the periphery of the camis such as to allow the levers b to be raised by their balance-weights and thus cause the bar (I and clip to rise into the position shown in Fig. 11, and so feed the coated plates to the finishing-rolls G, whence they are automatically taken and deposited in the rack E by the pickup apparatus 1).

The side levers 1), instead of being operated by a crank and a connecting-rod directly at tached to one of them, as in Figs. 1, 2, and 4,

IIO

or by a cam, as in Fig. 12, may be operated by a lever Z), secured to the shafta, upon which the levers Z) are fixed, and coupled by a slotted connecting-rod d to a crank e (or eccentric-strap,) as diagrammatically illus trated in Fig. 13 and in end view in Fig. 14; or the rod (1 may be operated by a cam e, as shown in side elevation and plan in Figs. 15 and 16, respectively. In this arrangement the rod (Z is in the form of a double forkcarrying at one end a roller 6 and jointed at the other end by an adjustable pin to the leverb. In each of these arrangements the levers b are depressedbya pull on the rod (Z but are raised by a connterbalance-weight, as in the previous arrangements.

In the pick-up apparatus constructed according to thisinvention the arms m 'm that carrythe rod 0 with mechanical fingers n, are each directly operated .from the lever '2'. For this purpose the arms 9229721 are connected to flanges or platesm m fixed to or cast in one with the toothed wheels S 8*, respectively. These wheels are fixed upon shafts m m and are each in gear with the toothed segment r of the lever r. To the shafts m m are fixed arms carrying counterbalance-Weights z 2', respectively. By this arrangement a steady parallel motion can be imparted to the arms m and m without subjecting them to unequal strains liable to derange their working, and the working of the apparatus is rendered more uniform and even than when one of the toothed wheels 8 and one arm m only are directly driven, and. motion is transferred from these to the other arm through crankarms anda connecting-link, as in the arrangement described in our former specification. The lever r is oscillated by a connecting-rod d, the length of which can be adjusted as desired and which is operated from the drivingshaft L through the toothed Wheels 71. gf and crank-shaft e, as in our former machine.

k are vertically-adjustable touch-rods, as in our former machine, for opening the mechanical fingers n whenthese are brought over the finishing-rolls G and rack E, respectively. The mechanical fingers are held normally closed by weight n and are opened by the touch-rod. Y

Our improved form of circular rack E consists of two or more sets of bent rods E, Fig. 7 each set being fixed by'casting to a disk E formed with an annular fiange E around which is a tire or band E of elastic or flexible material-such as india-rubber that is protected bya sheath of metal-as, for example, black or tinned plate. The two disks are fixed at asuitable distance apart upon a shaft E the space between them being left open. By this construction an elastic bed or support is provided for the loweredges of the finished plates to fall upon when released from the mechanical fingers n, and the liability of these edges being damaged by falling on a rigid support is thus obviated.

s is a worm fixed upon the rack-shaft E and in gear with a worm s onthe shaft 25. Upon this shaft is loosely mounted a sheave t, around which is wound a chain 25 the upper end of which passes partly around and is secured to a sheave 25", Figs. 1 and 2, fixed upon the shaft m of the pick-up apparatus. The lower end of the chain carries a weight i The sheave t is pressed outward against a pinon the shaft 25 by a spring 25 and is formed with an inclined earn 25 that engages the pin 25 and rotates the shaft if when turned in one direction by the chain t and sheave i", but slips idly past the pin 25 when turned in the other direction by the weight t the sheave then moving inward ashort distance and compressing the spring i By this means an intermittent step-by-step movement can be imparted from the pick-up apparatus tothe rack E each time the mechanical fingers pass from a position above the rack to the position shown in Fig. 1, the rack E remaining stationary when these fingers move in the opposite direction, the slack then produced in the chain 25 being taken up by the weight i To pre vent the shaft 2? being turned during this latter movement by reason of the friction between the cam-sheave t and the pin 25 we employ a brake, Fig. 10, consisting of a strip a of flexible material-as, for example, leather or india-rubber-that partly surrounds the shaft 25 and carries a weight to.

What we claim is 1. In a machine for coating metal plates and sheets by passing them through molten metal, a pick-up apparatus comprising two arms m m fixed upon shafts, the rod pivoted to the outer portions of both arms, gripping fingers n, carried by said rod and adapted to grip a coated plate, toothed wheels 8'8 fixed upon said shafts, a lever r, with toothed seg ment in gear with each of said wheels, and means for oscillating said lever, substantially as herein described, for the purpose specified.

2. In combination, the molten-metal pot, the grease-box at the top thereof, the cradle composed of a series of rods extending through the open end of the pot down into the lower portion thereof, cross-bars connecting said bars, the upper cross-bar being journaled at the top of the pot to allow the portion of the cradle in the pot to swing, a counter-weight at the exterior of the pot, lever connections to the upper portions of the cradle to depress the lower end of the cradle, as set forth, the vertically-movable plate-carrier in such pot, and a guide to direct the plates up into the grease-box, substantially as described.

.3. In a machine for coating metal plates, the rack consisting of the hub having the ra dial arms, the elastic or soft packing around said hub, and the protective sheathing around said packing, as set forth.

4. In a machine for coating metal plates, the combination of the molten-metal pot, the grease-box above the open top thereof and having the bottom opening and guide therein, means, substantially as described, in the pot to guide the plates, a vertically-movable platecarrier in the pot, and astationary horizontal guide f beneath the open end of said box and formed in one piece, with upwardly-extending grooves in its rear face and the two guides on the front face, for the purposes set forth, and to one side of the guide therein and in the said pot above the plate-guiding means, said guide f being V-shaped in cross-section to guide the plate from the pot to the greasebox.

5. In a machine for the purpose set forth,

the combination of the molten-metal pot, the

Lil

guides g and its back provided with grooves corresponding with the spaces between the cradle-bars, substantially as described and set forth.

In a machine for coating metal plates, the combination of the molten-metal pot, the grease-box in the open top thereof containing the rolls, the cradle extending down toward the bottom of said pot beside the grease-box and hinged at its upper end, said cradle being composed of bars, as set forth, to guide the plates in the pot and having its outer end provided with a counter-weight mechanism acting to throw the cradle down and overcome its buoyancy, a vertically-movable platecarrier, and a guide at the lower end of the grease-box to direct the plates upwardly into the same.

7. In a machine for coating metal plates, the combination of the molten-metal pot, the pivoted cradle therein for the plates, and the vertically-movable plate carrier or holder consisting of the horizontal bar d, having forked ends embracing the vertical guide-rods c, the vertical bent bars 6, secured at their lower ends to the bar d, and the spring-bars e, secured at their lower ends to the lower ends of each bar 6 and bearing against the opposite upper ends of the bar e, as shown and described.

8. In a machine for coating metal plates, the combination of the molten-metal pot, the grease-box at the top of said pot provided with the rolls, the horizontal stationary guide extending across said pot beneath said box and having its rear face inclined up, as set forth, said guide tapering downwardly to an edge,

' so that the plates will pass from its front face and up at its rear face, the vertically-movable plate-carrier, the pivoted cradle in said pot to guide the plates, as set forth, thelower edge of said horizontal guide being notched by grooves to correspond with the space between the bars of the cradle to receive the plate-carr1er.

9. In a machine for coating metal plates, the combination of the molten-metal pot, the grease-box at. the top thereof having rolls, the horizontal stationary guide extending across the pot at the outer side of the bottom of said box, so that its front face forms a downward continuation of the outer side of said box and its rear face is inclined up from the lower sharp edge of the guide toward the rolls in said box, a flux-box, the guides for the edges of the plate on the front face of said horizontal guide beneath the flux-box, the'cradle extending down into the lower portion of the pot beside said horizontal guide to guide the plates and direct their upper edges, the vertically-movable plate-carrier in the pot, and means to coact with the horizontal guide in guiding the plates to the rolls.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PHILIP ROGERS. JOHN PLAYER.

Witnesses:

HENRY I-I. FIELD, Notary, Swansea. H. G. FIELD,

His Clerk, Swansea. 

